Girls Basketball: Carondelet Drops NorCal Final to Berkeley

Berkeley 68, Carondelet 57

The Star: Carondelet’s Hannah Huffman came up only three points shy of the Northern California Division I championship scoring record, pouring in 31 points.

The Turning Point: Carondelet found itself trailing by 12 at halftime, 31-19 and its offensive attack was floundering. In the third quarter, the Cougars took advantage of a binge of free throws and drew to within six points by the start of the fourth quarter. A Huffman bucket to start the final period brought Carondelet within four points and with under four minutes remaining in the game a Katherine Luther score, narrowed the margin to three. However, the Yellowjackets found their rhythm and fed their dynamic post players, Chairese Culberson and Khristina Hunter, down the stretch to dominate the final three minutes and push the lead to double digits and out of the Cougars’ reach.

The Quote: "I think the difference in the game, and it’s right here on the stat sheet, was Berkeley’s — 45-24 —rebounding advantage,” Carondelet coach Margaret Gartner said.

What’s Next?:  Berkeley moves onto the state finals to play Mater Dei-Santa Ana. Carondelet enters the off-season, just two victories short of their ultimate goal.

Bottom Line: Huffman and freshman sensation, Natalie Romeo, were terrific and together accounted for 43 of the team's 57 points. They just were simply no match for the well rounded Yellowjackets, who received extremely balanced production and significant contributions from every rotation player.

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In a highly anticipated CIF Northern California Regional finals match between two of California’s top teams, Berkeley and Carondelet, the Yellowjackets simply stole the show.

On a night where fans had to brave the treacherous thunderstorm and 50-60 MPH winds, just to get inside Sacramento’s Power Balance Pavilion, Berkeley reigned supreme.

The Yellowjackets were dominant, and never trailed after giving up the first two baskets to Cougars freshman Natalie Romeo.

Berkeley’s Brittany Boyd may have had one of the most misleading stat lines of the night, only being credited with one assist, but she conducted the Yellowjacket offense like an orchestra in full flight.

Boyd led the way with 17 points, eight rebounds and three steals.

Four Berkeley players tallied nine or more points and eight players scored against Carondelet, Saturday night.

“They could have folded in the first half but they battled back and got themselves in the game,” Cougars coach Margaret Gartnet said. “We just struggled with the boards.”

The Yellowjackets held a huge, 45-24, rebounding advantage and the duo of forwards Chairese Culberson and Khristina Hunter proved too much for the Carondelet frontline.

Culberson, who was nicknamed by her coach as the rebounding piranha, recorded a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Hunter grabbed eight rebounds.

“It definitely makes it difficult for us when you have two go against two strong frontcourt players to rebound,” said Stanford-bound Erica Payne of Hunter and Culberson.

Berkeley may have dominated in the paint but they had no answer for Hannah Huffman,

Huffman topped the 30-point threshold for the second consecutive game and showed off what her coached called phenomenal athleticism.

The other key to Berkeley’s record 10th NorCal championship, was its ability to get Payne in foul trouble and off her game.

Payne recorded her fourth foul with over six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter and finished with seven points and seven rebounds.

“We judge ourselves by a different standard,” said Berkeley’s coach Cheryl Draper. “We do not play for the fans. We play for tradition only. These kids want this legacy to continue on and that is why they got this tenth (NorCal championship) victory.”

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Berkeley 68, Carondelet 57

1

2

3

4

F

Berkeley

14

16

17

20

68

Carondelet

8

11

23

15

57

Individuals — (fg ftm tp)

Carondelet

Romero  5  3-4  13, Payne 3  1-4  7, Huffman 11  7-8  31, Luther 2  3-3  7. Totals 21 14-19 57.

Berkeley

Culberson 5  5-8  15, Guinn 3  1-2  7, Davis 3  2-2  10, Hunter 2  2-4  6, Boyd 6  5-6  17, Webster 1  0-0  2, Howard 4  0-0  9, Youngblood 1  0-0  2. Totals 25 15-22 68.

3-point goals: Berkeley 3 (Davis 2, Howard); Carondelet 1 (Huffman).

Fouled-out: Velasco

 Records: Berkeley 27-1, Carondelet 28-5

NorCal Division I Finals, March 19, 2011

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